March 30, 2017

The on-going political struggle for recognition of the rights of Anglophone Cameroon as stated in the Constitution of 1961 led to the strike of Anglophone lawyers and teachers. This strike is now in its fourth month. Given the strike of the teachers, students on every level, nursery to university have been out of school since mid-December. Efforts on the part of the Cameroonian government to get parents to send their children back to school have failed given the on-going presence of the military in major cities, arrests, and blocking of access to the internet since January 19th. In addition, “Ghost town" days are held every Monday when all stores are closed and there is no vehicular traffic in the North and South regions. Opposition leaders have been arrested and/or gone into exile adding to the difficulty of having meaningful dialogue to resolve the crisis. The five Bishops of the Northwest and Southwest Regions sent a memorandum to President Paul Biya in December 2016 “… with a view to assisting the government to seek a lasting solution to this problem and enable its citizens to live in peace and harmony.” Please continue to pray for all those affected by this crisis and for wisdom for those who can help to facilitate dialogue.

(Sister Cathy Molloy now lives in the USA. She was a missionary in Cameroon for many years).

March 27, 2017

On St. Patrick’s Day the Kingston CND’s celebrated the March birthdays of five sisters. The afternoon began with the shout “HEAR YE, HEAR YE” of the town crier regaled in Irish greens and calling all Congregation of Notre Dame Sisters in the name of the King of Limerick and rhyme to join in the fun of celebrating the five March birthdays and honouring the dear Saint himself.

March 24, 2017

LAND: we are planting a school garden, butterflies for the youngest students, vegetables for P.O.T.S., flowers for Providence Rest, herbs for the kitchen, a berry patch for birds, and a heritage garden for our historical significance. Gardening has many positive impacts on learning, heath and community.